Rudy May

Rudolph May, Jr. (born July 18, 1944 in Coffeyville, Kansas) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1965 to 1983 for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos. May was noted for possessing a very good curveball^{[citation needed]}. May was the 1980 American League ERA leader List of Major League Baseball earned run average champions.

Early years

May played his high school baseball at Castlemont HS in Oakland California. Signed by the Minnesota twins as an amateur free agent in 1962, May was one of the last MLB players exempt from the later adoption of the MLB Draft. He pitched in 32 games for Class A Bismark-Maran posting a record of 11 wins and 11 losses, logging 168 innings in 24 games. He chose not re-sign with Minnesota.

In 1963 May was on the move, being selected first in the 1963 First Year draft by the Chicago White Sox. He pitched over 300 innings in 1964, split between Single A Tidewater and Triple A Indianapolis with 17 wins and 8 losses in 207 innings in 30 appearances.

After the 1964 season, May was traded by the Chicago White Sox, to the Philadelphia Phillies for C Bill Heath and a player to be named later. RHP Joel Gibson was traded to complete the deal. The Phillies then traded May to the California Angels for OF Bo Belinsky.

MLB debut with the California Angels

May made his MLB debut against the Detroit Tigers in 1965 pitching for the Angels. He pitched 9 innings giving up one run and one hit while striking out ten and walking 5, throwing 139 pitches. He received a no-decision. May threw 139 pitches in the game. He appeared in 30 games for the Angels in 1965.

May pitched in the Angels minor league system between 1966 and 1968. He appeared in 45 games over three seasons. He won 18 games and lost 10, logging 248 innings.

Return to major leagues

May returned to the Major League for good in 1969 with the Angels. He appeared in 200 games for the Angels between 1969 and the beginning of the 1974 season as a starter and reliever. May posted a record of 47 wins and 67 losses with California pitching 1013 innings.

Purchased by the Yankees in 1974

May joined the Yankees staff half way through the 1974 season. May was an important part of the Yankees staff from 1974 until 1976. He posted 22 wins and 16 losses in 326 innings over 49 appearances with the Yankees.

Traded to Baltimore

Half way through the 1976 season, two years to the day he was acquired by New York, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in a 10 player swap. The Yankees traded C Rick Dempsey, RHP Tippy Martinez, LHP Scott McGregor and RHP Dave Pagan to the Baltimore Orioles for RHP Doyle Alexander, LHP Jimmy Freeman, C Elrod Hendricks, LHP Ken Holtzman and LHP Grant Jackson. May appeared in 58 games posting a record of 28 wins and 21 loses over 403 innings

Traded to Montreal

May was traded to the Montreal Expos on December 7th, 1977 along with Randy Mill and Bryan Smith for RHP Joe Kerrigan, OF Gary Roenicke and RHP Don Stanhouse. May pitched primarily out of the bullpen for Montreal. He posted 18 wins and 13 losses, appearing in 49 games and recording 237 innings.

Free Agency

May became a free agent on November 1st, 1979. He signed with the New York Yankees on November 8th, 1979.

New York Yankees (1980-1983)

During the 1980 season, May led the AL with an impressive 2.46 ERA, which was his best career mark. He won 28 games and lost 27 hurling 429 innings appearing in 185 innings.

NAUI Instructor – National Association of Underwater Instructors

When May was 17 he enrolled in an underwater diving program. After completion of the course, May was a certified diver.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
• Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all time

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference